Column anchoring system for wind uplift resistance

ABSTRACT

An inter-column anchor engages a top surface of header above a corresponding column, and the foundation below the corresponding column. The header anchor and/or the foundation anchor are adjustable to increase or decrease tension. The header anchor and foundation anchor are joined by a cable that may be grossly adjustable in length to accommodate various column heights. The elements of the inter-column anchor may be organized into a kit for distribution.

PRIORITY

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional App. No. 62/961,610 (filed Jan. 15, 2020), which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

In construction applications, columns have often been used outdoors for utilitarian and aesthetic purposed. Where those columns can be directly secured to corresponding foundations and headers, for example where the column can be bolted to the header and foundation, the columns may provide stability both for compression and tension. However, where hollow or composite columns are used, the columns may provide adequate compressive support but no tensile support. In outdoor applications, an updraft can cause the header and roof to lift away from the column. Such lifting is structurally detrimental and could be problematic for the continued position and orientation of the column.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to an inter-column anchor that engages a top surface of header above a corresponding column, and the foundation below the corresponding column. The header anchor and/or the foundation anchor are adjustable to increase or decrease tension.

In a further aspect, the header anchor and foundation anchor are joined by a cable that may be grossly adjustable in length to accommodate various column heights.

In a further aspect, the elements of the inter-column anchor may be organized into a kit for distribution.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and should not restrict the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The numerous advantages of the embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective, exploded, environmental view of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a side and detail view of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a detail view of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a detail view of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a kit of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a kit of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited in their application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components or steps or methodologies set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. In the following detailed description of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure that the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure. The inventive concepts disclosed herein are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As used herein a letter following a reference numeral is intended to reference an embodiment of the feature or element that may be similar, but not necessarily identical, to a previously described element or feature bearing the same reference numeral (e.g., 1, 1 a, 1 b). Such shorthand notations are used for purposes of convenience only, and should not be construed to limit the inventive concepts disclosed herein in any way unless expressly stated to the contrary.

Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concepts, and “a” and “an” are intended to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The appearances of the phrase “in some embodiments” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, and embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed may include one or more of the features expressly described or inherently present herein, or any combination of sub-combination of two or more such features, along with any other features which may not necessarily be expressly described or inherently present in the instant disclosure.

Broadly, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to an inter-column anchor that engages a top surface of header above a corresponding column, and the foundation below the corresponding column. The header anchor and/or the foundation anchor are adjustable to increase or decrease tension.

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective, exploded, environmental view of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Where a composite or hollow column 100 is disposed between a header 102 and a foundation 104, updrafts where the column 100 supports the header 102 may tend to lift the header 102 and corresponding roof section. Such lifting is undesirable. An inter-column anchor for preventing updraft induced lift includes a header anchor 106, a foundation anchor 108, and a tension wire 110 disposed inside the column 100, connecting the header anchor 106 to the foundation anchor 108.

In at least one embodiment, the header anchor 106 passes through the header (for example, between two closely disposed beams of the header 102, through a hole in a laminated header, etc.) A flange, such as a large washer or a molded portion of the header anchor, abuts a top surface of the header 102.

In at least one embodiment, the foundation anchor 108 engages a foundation hole 112 drilled in the foundation 104. The foundation anchor 108 may comprise an expanding concrete anchor bolt; alternatively, other foundation anchors 108 are envisioned. For example, an internally threaded sleeve may be secured in the foundation hole 112, either mechanically or via an adhesive, and then an eye bolt may be screwed into the internally threaded sleeve.

In at least one embodiment, at least one of the header anchor 106 and/or foundation anchor 108 includes a tensioning element to apply a tension to the tension wire 110 and compress the header 102 onto the column 100 to prevent any lift caused by updraft.

After installation, the foundation anchor 108 and tension wire 110 are completely obscured by the column 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, a side and detail view of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. A header anchor 206 abuts a top surface of a header 202. A tension wire 210 connected to the header anchor 206 extends through the header 202 and connects to a foundation anchor 208 secured in a foundation hole in the corresponding foundation 204.

In at least one embodiment, the tension wire 210 comprises a composite cable, made of a plurality of wire components 212. In at least one embedment, the tension wire 210 comprises a galvanized aircraft cable having a breaking strength of about seven thousand pounds.

In at least one embodiment, the foundation anchor 208 may comprise an expanding concrete anchor with a pull-out force of about four thousand pounds.

Referring to FIG. 3, a detail view of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The inter-column anchor includes a header anchor 300, a foundation anchor 302, and a tension wire 304.

In at least one embodiment, the header anchor 300 comprises a tension wire connection element 306 to secure the header anchor 300 to the tension wire 304. The tension wire connection element 306 may comprise a stud-end sleeve grip or other swage sleeve device including a tightening nut 312 to increase a gripping force on the tension sire 304. Alternatively, the tension wire connection element 306 may comprise an eye bolt or a threaded eye nut.

A header flange 308 and tensioning nut 310 are disposed along a header anchor shaft such that the header flange 308 abuts a top surface of a header when installed. The tensioning nut 310 allows an installer to apply tension to the tension wire 304 which tends to hold the header against a top surface of a column and prevent lift from updraft.

In at least one embodiment, the foundation anchor 302 comprises a tension wire connection element 314 to secure the foundation anchor 302 to the tension wire 304. The tension wire connection element 314 may comprise a stud-end sleeve grip or other swage sleeve device including a tightening nut 320 to increase a gripping force on the tension sire 304.

In at least one embodiment, where the foundation anchor 302 comprises an expanding concrete anchor, the expanding concrete anchor portion may include an expansion nut 318 to force the expanding concrete anchor to engage a hole in a foundation. The expanding concrete anchor portion may be connected to a foundation anchor shaft via a threaded coupler 316. In at least one embodiment, the threaded coupler 316 may be adjusted to make fine adjustments to the length of the tension wire 304 to the top surface of the header. It may be appreciated that the threaded coupler 316 may adjust tension of the tension wire 304, though in actual application, the threaded coupler may usually be unreachable as it is surrounded by a column.

In at least one embodiment, the foundation anchor 302 comprises a threaded bolt and an internally threaded sleeve. The internally threaded sleeve is secured in the foundation hole and the threaded bolt may be screwed in. Alternatively, the foundation anchor 302 may comprise a shaft portion, threaded or not, that may be fixed in the foundation hole via an adhesive. Alternatively, the foundation anchor 302 may be directly disposed in the foundation when poured.

Referring to FIG. 4, a detail view of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The inter-column anchor includes a header anchor 400, a foundation anchor 402, and a tension wire 404.

In at least one embodiment, the header anchor 400 comprises a tension wire connection element 406 to secure the header anchor 400 to the tension wire 404. The tension wire connection element 406 may comprise a stud-end sleeve grip or other swage sleeve device including a tightening nut 412 to increase a gripping force on the tension sire 404. Alternatively, the tension wire connection element 406 may comprise an eye bolt or a threaded eye nut.

A header flange 408 and tensioning nut 410 are disposed along a header anchor shaft such that the header flange 408 abuts a top surface of a header when installed. The tensioning nut 410 allows an installer to apply tension to the tension wire 404 which tends to hold the header against a top surface of a column and prevent lift from updraft.

In at least one embodiment, the foundation anchor 402 comprises a tension wire connection element 416 to secure the foundation anchor 402 to the tension wire 404. The tension wire connection element 416 may comprise a threaded eye nut affixed to a foundation anchor shaft.

In at least one embodiment, where the foundation anchor 402 comprises an expanding concrete anchor, the expanding concrete anchor portion may include an expansion nut 418 to force the expanding concrete anchor to engage a hole in a foundation. The expansion nut 418 may also define terminal position of the tension wire connection element 416.

In at least one embodiment, a compression sleeve 420 is used to connect the tension wire 404 to the tension wire connection element 416. Furthermore, the compression sleeve 420 allows for gross tension wire length adjustments. During installation, after the foundation anchor 402 is fixed in the foundation, the tension wire 404 may be sized to conform to the distance from the foundation to the top of the corresponding header. The compression sleeve 420, or other tension wire 404 self-connection element, secures the tension wire 404 to itself through the tension wire connection element 416. Such adjustment allows the tension wire 404 to be long enough to accommodate any column height, but still finely adjustable during installation.

Referring to FIG. 5, a kit of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. In at least one embodiment, the kit comprises a header anchor 502 with a sleeve grip element, a foundation anchor 504 and threaded eye nut 506 configured to engage the foundation anchor 504, a tension wire 510 which may be pre-affixed to the threaded eye nut 506, one or more washers 508 that may operate as flanges, and one or more nuts 512 to apply tension to the tension wire 510 during installation. During installation, the foundation anchor 504 is fixed in a foundation hole, the threaded eye nut 506 is secured to the foundation anchor 504, the tensions wire 510 is threaded through a hollow column and a header, and through the sleeve grip element. The tension wire 510 may be cut to an appropriate length and fixed by the sleeve grip element. A washer 508 and nut 512 are then then placed over a header anchor shaft and tightened until the tension wire 510 is sufficiently tense to prevent lift from updraft.

Referring to FIG. 6, a kit of an inter-column anchor according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. In at least one embodiment, the kit comprises a header anchor 600 with a sleeve grip element, a foundation anchor 602 comprising an expanding concrete anchor and a sleeve grip element 604, a tension wire 608, and one or more washers 606 that may operate as flanges. During installation, the foundation anchor 602 is fixed in a foundation hole, the tensions wire 608 is threaded through a hollow column and a header. In at least one embodiment, the tension wire 608 may be pre-fixed to the header anchor 600 at a predetermined length. A tension element (such as a nut) is tightened until the tension wire 608 is sufficiently tense to prevent lift from updraft.

It is believed that the inventive concepts disclosed herein and many of their attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description of embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the broad scope of the inventive concepts disclosed herein or without sacrificing all of their material advantages; and individual features from various embodiments may be combined to arrive at other embodiments. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. Furthermore, any of the features disclosed in relation to any of the individual embodiments may be incorporated into any other embodiment. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An inter-column anchor comprising: a header anchor comprising: a flange configured to abut an upper surface of a header; and a tension adjustment element; a foundation anchor configured to engage a hole in a foundation; and a tension wire configured to engage the header anchor and the foundation anchor, wherein the inter-column anchor is configured to apply a downward force to the header above a column to resist a lift to a roof overhang from an updraft.
 2. The inter-column anchor of claim 1, wherein the foundation anchor comprises an expanding concrete anchor.
 3. The inter-column anchor of claim 1, wherein the foundation anchor comprises: an internally threaded sleeve; and a bolt configured to engage the internally threaded sleeve.
 4. The inter-column anchor of claim 1, further comprising a tension wire length adjuster.
 5. The inter-column anchor of claim 1, wherein the foundation anchor comprises a tension adjustment element.
 6. The inter-column anchor of claim 1, wherein the header anchor is affixed to the tension wire via a stud-end sleeve grip.
 7. The inter-column anchor of claim 6, wherein the foundation anchor is affixed to the tension wire via a stud-end sleeve grip.
 8. The inter-column anchor of claim 6, wherein the foundation anchor is affixed to the tension wire via an eye loop.
 9. A kit comprising: a header anchor; a foundation anchor configured to engage a hole in a foundation; and a tension wire configured to engage the header anchor and the foundation anchor. wherein the kit is configured to be installed with the tension wire disposed inside a column disposed between a header and the foundation, to apply a compressive force to the column.
 10. The kit of claim 9, wherein the foundation anchor comprises an expanding concrete anchor.
 11. The kit of claim 9, wherein the foundation anchor comprises: an internally threaded sleeve; and a bolt configured to engage the internally threaded sleeve.
 12. The kit of claim 11, further comprising a second foundation anchor comprising an expanding concrete anchor.
 13. The kit of claim 9, further comprising a tension wire length adjuster.
 14. The kit of claim 9, wherein the foundation anchor comprises a tension adjustment element.
 15. The kit of claim 9, further comprising a concrete adhesive for securing the foundation anchor into a foundation.
 16. A method for preventing uplift of an overhang proximal to a column, the method comprising: drilling a foundation hole in a foundation; inserting a foundation anchor into the foundation hole; securing the foundation anchor in the foundation hole; inserting a tension wire, affixed to the foundation anchor at a proximal end, through a hollow column; inserting a header anchor, affixed to the tension wire at a distal end, through a header; placing the hollow column between the foundation and the header at a location corresponding to the foundation anchor and the header anchor; and applying tension to the tension wire.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting the length of the tension wire prior to applying tension.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein securing the foundation anchor comprises gluing the foundation anchor in the foundation hole with a concrete adhesive.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein applying tension comprises adjusting a tension element of the header anchor.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein applying tension further comprises adjusting a tension element of the foundation anchor. 